MOSCOW, June 21 (RAPSI) – Police dogs have helped uncover about 1,500 crimes, including thefts, attacks, burglaries and murders, in Moscow so far this year, said the local chief of the Interior Ministry’s canine handler service.
The city’s police force uses some 600 service dogs, a number that is set to increase, chief Nikolai Zotov said.
“They find bombs and explosive belts hidden in buildings. No device ever invented can do this better than a dog," he said.
"Although dog handlers do not actually investigate crimes – which is done by the police – search and rescue dogs can help uncover crimes,” the chief said. “When dog handlers arrive at the scene along with investigators, the dog specialist looks around, speaks with police investigators and eyewitnesses and decides how best dogs can be used to deal with this crime."
